Automatic outside bowling alley



April 3, 1934- E. HEDENsKooG V AUTMATIC OUTSIDE BOWLING ALLEY Filed Feb. 10, 1951 o j a 2 2 ,m f ,i :ILHN MMU 7 d W f n W 9 9 d o LL H April 3, 1934. .E. HEDENSKOG 1,953,227

AUTOMATIC OUTSIDE BOWLING ALLEY Filed Feb. l0. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheetn 2 f je f'PMAQD/MV April 3, 1934. E. HEDENsKooG 1,953,227

AUTOMATIC` OUTSIDE BOWLING ALLEY Filed Feb. 1o. 1931 4 sheets-sheet s a j f 2 .i 2, z p. MWL 7 j W M f M f M 7-a W Y ,o ,o 2 a f M f 4 f /MMV vux Rif

April 3, 1934. E. HEDENsKooG AUTOMATIC OUTSIDE BOWLING ALLEY Filed Feb. l0., 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Javi/' Ey/yesr Hips/fargo@ a jf@ j Pf@ Z frag/vf? l vide, in a bowling Patented Apr. a, 1934 yP .Avriili'r oFFifcr; i

AUTOMATIC OUTSIDE no wLnvG ALLEY `Ernest Hedemkoot, Muskegon, Mich.,- assigner to Brunswi The ck-Balke-Collender Company,

(liliicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application February 10, 1931, Serial No. 514,808 Claims. (Cl. 273-44) 'Ihis invention relates to an improved automatic outside bowling alley and has for one of its objects tne provision of a bowling alley or the like whereby the pins are held in desired position for bowling 5 purposes and when knocked from their attached positions on the playingsurface are automatically removed by being drawn upwardly so that play on any remaining pins may proceed.

One important object of the invention is to proalley having tethered pins of this sort, means for returning the pins to position for further play when any or all of the/m have been knocked from the playing surface.

Another important object of the invention re- 16 sides in improved means for detachably retaining the pins in position for bowling, and also automatic means for removing the same from the field `of play when struck, together with additional means, manually operated or otherwise, for returning the pins to playing position when desired.

Another and still further important object of the invention is to provide a bowling alley of this sort which can be installed and operated outdoors and which will not be susceptible to weather changes, atmospheric conditions, or the like, and which furthermore will be proof against clogging by dirt, dust, snow, or ice. Thereis additionally provided a mechanism which is strong and rugged in construction and will hold up almost indefinitely under severe conditions of use, and exposure to the weather.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification. The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pin end of the alley, illustrating the mechanism for resetting the pins andalso for returning the balls to the player. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the player's end of the alley, showing the` ball return rails, and

also the foot-operated push button which acts to mechanically reset the pins after play.

Figure 3 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating a portion of the playing surface and means for detachably mounting the pins thereon, one of the pins, and the stationary and movable decks which comprise the pin removing and setting mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail view, partly in section, of the Spring. housing, and chain for resiliently supporting the pin.

Figure 5 is a detail view. partly in section. illustrating a releasable means for retaining the pins on the playing surface against the tension of its supporting spring.

Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating a modi- 60 fled form of releasable pin retaining means. d

Figure 'l is a detail view illustrating the chain link connection at the top of the pin and also the shoulder with which the spring housing cooperates for pushing the pin downwardly onto the 65 playing surface.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the means shown in Figure 4 for releasably maintaining a pin in playing position.

Figure 9 is a detail side elevation of the ball re- 70 turn mechanism, showing the operation of the same in dotted lines. Figure 10 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly in dotted lines, of the one-revolution clutch which operates the pin setting frame, Figure 11 is a top plan view 75 of the clutch mechanism shown in Figure 10. v

As shown in the drawingsi The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the bed or playing surface of a bowling alley or the like, the same having a plurality of pins 12 80 mounted thereon as in the usual game and provided with balls 14 and a ball return gully 16. There is also provided a manually operated push button 18 situated at the playing end of the bowling alley for resetting the pins when desired. Pressure on this push button operates rods 15 and 17 (Figure l) which in turn actuate a one-revolution clutch associated with the motor 19 whereby the setting frame 20 is moved downwardly and again upwardly by means of a connecting rod 21. Thedownward motion acts to spot the pins 12, which are then releasably held in position on the bed 10 when the frame 20 is again moved upwardly on account of the second half of the clutch revolution. As best shown in Figures 10 and 11, 95 the shaft driven by the motor 19 is continuously operated and extends into the clutch casing 102, and upon one end of the shaft 95 is fitted one portion 104 of a clutch. A corresponding portion 106 of this clutch is tted on a stub shaft 100 mounted in the casing 102 and which extends outwardly through the other side thereof and has' iitted thereon a ily-wheel or the like 108. Eccentrically mounted on the fly-wheel at 110 is the upper end of the shaft 2l which is connected to 105 the pin setting frame.

The rod 17 is connected to a pull-rod 112 (Figures 10 and 11) which has its end connected to a clutch actuating yoke 114 which is pivotally mounted at 110 on the clutch casing. d 110 Mounted on the clutch actuating yoke is a. roller 118 which nts into the corresponding depression in the fly-wheel 108. A spring 120 is provided on the rod 112 for normally forcing it and its attachments into the position shown in Figure 10.

A pull on the rod 112 brings the yoke 114 forwardly, thereby engaging* the clutch elements 104 and 106 and at the same time pulls out the roller 118 from its notch in the fly-wheel 108. The face of the fly-wheel contacts the roller, thereby holding the clutch in engagement until such time as the ily-wheel has made a single revolution, whereupon the roller 118 will again drop into its notch, stopping the action of the iiy-wheel 108 and its connecting rod 21.

Each pin includes a metal rod or the like 22 iitted into the top thereof and which may, if desired, extend downwardly completely through the pin, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3, terminating in a projection 24 which has an extendlng shoulder 26, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5, this projection and shoulder adapted for cooperation with a retaining latch 28.

This retaining latch 28 forms the end of an arm 30 which is mounted in the alley bed 10 forward of the pin as shown and is pivotally supported at 32. A compression spring 34 is provided for normally forcing the ann 30 and its integral latch element 28 downwardly.

The latching end of this arm is fitted into an opening in a plate 36, ten of these plates being mounted in the bed 10, one for each pin. Each of the plates is formed with a central depression 35, and is also provided with a central opening at the bottom of the depression, and into this opening is fitted the upwardly projecting end 39 of a bifurcated arm or rod 40 which is also mounted in the bed 10 and pivoted thereto at 32. A compression spring 44 is mounted in a suitably shaped recess in the arm 30 and operates against a crosspin 45 positioned in both portions of the arm or rod 40 across the top of the spring. The action of the spring 34 tends to force the arm 30 downwardly but this action is limited on account of the fact that the rear end 47 of the arm 30 extends beyond the pivot point 32 and is shaped to contact with the stop plate 49 mounted beneath the bedplate 36. This limits the downward motion of the extension 28. The spring 44 has a tendency to push the bifurcated arm 40 and its outward extension 39 upwardly, but this upward action is limited by contact of the upper face of the extension 39 with the lower edge of the latch member 28.

The end of the extension 39 is socketed or otherwise shaped to correspond to the similarly rounded lower end of the shoulder 26 forming the end of the rod 24 projecting from the bottom of the pin 12.

Obviously when the rod 24 with its shoulder 26 is forced into the depression 35, the shoulder 26 will ride over the end of the latch 28 and into the opening in the bottom of the depression 35, forcing the extension 39 slightly downwardly. The upper end of the shoulder 24 will then ride under the latch 28 and any resultant upward tension exerted on the pin will cause the latch 28 to move upwardly to the limit of its movement, which is determined by contact of its upper face 46 with the under face of the plate 36, Whereupon the pin 12 will be retained in position directly over the plate 36, and its depression 35.

However, in the event of the ball 14 striking the pin 12, the shoulder 24 would be forced rearwardly from beneath the latch end` 28, whereupon the pin will be drawn upwardly by a spring 5 0 through a corresponding opening in a stationary deck 51 mountedvabove the playing bed.

This upward motion of 'the pin will be accomplished by means oi' the spring 50 mounted in a housing 52, which housing comprises a cylinder or the like fixed to the movable or re-setting deck 20. The spring 50 is attached to a chain 54 which extends downwardly and is connected to the metal rod 20 which forms part of the pin, and the lower end of the chain is attached to the metal rod 20 by means of a rivet and link connection 56, as best shown in Figure 7.

A swivel joint 58 is positioned at the Apoint of connection between the spring 50 and the chain 54 and this swivel joint has, positioned below it, a piston-like element 60 under which is mounted a helical spring 62 which surrounds the upper end of the chain 54 and has its lower end resting on an annular element 64 mounted in the lower end of the housing 52 by means of a cap nut or the like 66. The cap nut is provided with an opening through which the chain 54 passes and the inner edge of this opening is shaped to correspond with the shoulder 20 on the top of the pin rod 22, so that cooperation between the cap screw and the shoulder will act to positively push the pin into the depression or spot 35 in the plate 36 and positively position the same with respect thereto.

The spring 62 is provided for the purpose of absorbing the shock of the impact of the ball against the pin and also compensates for variations in length of pins when the pins are set by means of the upward and downward action of the setting frame 20 and its connected housing 52.

The deck 51 is stationary and the openings therein are of such a size that the pins will not pass through the same, this being accomplished by making the opening either smaller in diameter than the outside diameter of the pin, or, in the case of duck pins, by making the opening of a smaller diameter than the outside diameter of the band 70 which encircles the pin.

The deck 72 positioned above the resetting frame 20 is also xed and supports the upper end of the spring 50, so that tension on the spring will result when the setting frame 20 is moved downwardly, and the housing 52 acts to position the pin over the spot in the plate 36, Where it is retained by means of the latch 28. Obviously this retention of the pin in lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2, is releasable, as when the same is struck by a ball or receives an impact from another pin, the shoulder 26 will be immediately jolted away from its pin retaining connection with the latch 28, no matter from what direction the jolt or jar is received.

A modied form of the means for supporting the pin and retaining the same in playing position against the tension of the spring 50 is shown in Figure 5. This construction includes a latch element 74 forming the upper portion of a rod 76 slidably mounted in a housing '18 and normally retained in lowermost position by means of a compression spring 80. This compression spring is itself mounted in a housing or cylinder 82 which is fitted on the lower end of the rod 76 by means of a cotter-pin 84 or the like and the height of the cylinder 82 determines the extent of the upward movement of the rod 76 and its latch '74. In Figure 5 this rod is shown in its uppermost position, being maintained there by the upward pull on the bowling pin 12.

A central depression 86 is formed in the plate which will not be or housing 78 and in this depression is slidably fitted acylinder or the like 88, closed at'its top as shown, the top being provided with a concave depression to receive the correspondingly shaped lower end 26 of the metal pin 20. A compression spring 90 is fitted in the cylinder 88 and has its lower end supported by the bottom plate 92 of' the housing 78 whereby the cylinder 88 is forced upwardly and will follow the rod 76 to the upward limit of its movement. However the spring 80 is stronger than the spring 90, so that normally the over-hanging edge of the latch 74 retains the cylinder 88 at the bottom of the depression 86 in the plate 78, thereby leaving the whole construction either below or flush with the playing bed 10, so that there will be no interference with the balls.

The playing bed 10 is preferably composed of a plurality of sections tted together in any suitable manner, these sections being water-proofed and weather-proofed if the device is to be used outdoors, whereby a playing bed will be provided subject to warping or disfiguration owingto weather or climatic changes.

An automatic ball-return is provided, this comy prising an arm 94 mounted on a shaft 95 which is driven by the motor 19, this shaft being continuously rotated, and the arm 94 is eccentrically mounted so that an upward and downward movement about a pivot point 96 is imparted to an arm 97Which has aball-grasping loop 98 at the lower end thereof. The elevator arm slides on the pivoted rod 97, which allows it to drop over the ball. The balls, after being used in play, emerge from an opening 99 in the lframe of the machine and are propelled upwardly along the curved portion 100 of the gully 16 by means of the ball return arm.

It will be evident that herein is provided an automatic outside bowling alley which combines in one apparatus the features of the usual alley or game and which eliminates the employees required for re-setting the pins, while at the same time affording a game which is just as scientific and enjoyable. Further, the device may be set up and maintained out of doors and can be ready for play at any time and under any conditions.'

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details in construction varied throughout a wide range, without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore 'do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

1. A bowling alley, including a playing bed and tethered pins, and means for setting the pins on the bed, said means comprising a movable frame,

, a motor for operating the frame, a single revolution clutch connection between the motor and frame, together with a ball return means continuously operated by said motor, said ball return means comprising a pivoted arm, a ball grasping loop at the end of the ann, and an eccentrically mounted lever connecting said arm and the motor shaft.

2. A bowling alley, comprising a bed, a plurality of pins, a pin-setting carrier movable to and from the bed, a stationary deck below the carrier, a fixed support above the carrier, and resilient connections between the fixed support and the pins,

said resilient connections extending through openings in the fixed deck.

3. A bowling alley, comprising a bed, a plurality of pins, a pin-setting carrier movable to and from,

the carrier, resilient connecsov tween the xed support and the pins, said resilient connections extending through openings in the fixed deck, and-means for temporarily retaining the-pins on the bed, mounted in the bed together studs on the pins.

5. A bowling alley, comprising a bed. a plurality of pins, a carrier movable to and from the bed, a stationary deck below the carrier, a fixed support above the carrier, resilient connections between the tlxed support and the pins. said resilient connections extending through openings in the fixed' deck, means for temporarily retaining the pins on the bed, said means comprising spring operated latches mounted in the bed, and means on the pins adapted to be associated with the latches.

with corresponding 6. A bowling alley, comprising a. bed, a plurality of pins, a carrier movable to and from the bed, a stationary deck below the carrier, a fixed support above the carrier, resilient connections between the fixed support and the pins, said resilient connections extending through openings in the fixed deck, means for temporarily retaining the pins on the bed, said means comprising latches mounted in the bed, and means on the pins cooperating with the latches, said means comprising projections in the lower ends of the pins.

7. A bowling alley, comprising a bed, a plurality of pins, a carrier movable to and from the bed, a stationary deck below the carrier, a fixed support above the carrier, resilient connections between the fixed support and the pins, said resilient connections extending through openings in the fixed deck, means for temporarily retaining the pins on the bed, said means comprising latches mounted in the bed, and means on the pins cooperating with the latches, said means comprising projections in the lower ends of the pins, and means associated with the latches for allowing the pin projections to ride beneath the latches upon downward movement of the pins.

8. A bowling extending vertically through the body, the lower end of the rod comprising a latching stud.

9. A bowling pin comprising a body and a rod extending vertically through the body, said rod projecting below the end of the pin body and terminating in a shoulder.

10. A bowling pin comprising a body and a rod extending vertically through the body, said rod projecting below the end of the pin body and terminating in a shoulder, said rod additionally extending above the top of the pin body, and means for connecting a tether to the rod.

11. A pin-setting device comprising a movable frame, a stationary deck below the vframe and a xed support above the frame, pins resiliently connected to said fixed support, and means on the movable frame for forcing the pins downwardly against thetension of said resilient connections.

12. A pin-setting device comprising a movable frame, a stationary deck below the frame and a fixed support above the frame, pins resiliently connected to said fixed support, and means on the pin comprising a body and a rod movable frame for forcing the pins ldownwardly against the tension of said resilient connections, said means comprising housings on the movable frame through which said resilient connections 13. A pin-setting device comprising a movable frame, a stationary deck below the frame and a fixed support above the frame, pins resiliently connected to said flxed support, means on the movable frame for forcing the pins downwardly against thev tension of said resilient connections, said means comprising housings on the movable framethrough which said resilient connections pass, and shock absorbing means in the housings.

14. A pin-setting device comprising a movable frame, a stationary deck below the frame and a xed support above the frame, pins resiliently connected to said xed support, means on the movable frame for forcing the pins downwardly against the tension ofy said resilient connections, said means comprising housings on the movable frame through which said resilient connections pass, shock absorbing means for the pins in the housings, said shock absorbing means being distinct .from the resilient connections of the pins, and flexible pin supporting elements connected to and cooperating with said resilient connections.

15. A- pin-setting device comprising'a movable frame, a stationary deck below the frame and a fixed support above the frame, pins resiliently connected to said fixed support, means on the movable frame for forcing the pins downwardly against the tension of said resilient connections, said means comprising housings on the movable frame through which said resilient connections pass, shock absorbing means for the pins in the housings, said shock absorbing means being distinct from the resilient connections of the pins, and flexible pin supporting elements connected to and cooperating with said resilient connections, said flexible supporting elements passing through corresponding openings in the fixed deck when the pins are in playing position.

ERNEST HEDENSKOOG. 

